Vibratory feeder



United States Patent O VIBRATORY FEEDER Walter E. Gilbert, Indiana, Pa.,assignor to Syntron Company, Homer'City, Pa., a corporation of DelawareApplication September 3, 1954, Serial No. 454,103 3 Claims. (Cl. B10-29)This invention relates generally to electromagnetically operatedvibratory feeders and more particularly to ythe vibratory motorconstruction for conveyor feeders.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a simplifiedand inexpensive electromagnetic vibratory motor for feeder conveyortroughs. This vibratory motor is particularly adaptable for small feederconveyor troughs and has a core type coil and armature with the air gapenclosed in the center of the coil and the return magnetic pathencircling and enclosing the coil. The air gap is adjusted by adjustingthe core only and not the whole field of the motor. With thisconstruction the motor parts are completely enclosed and only arelatively few number of parts are required. A single casting makes upthe base,`the coil housing and the magnetic return path. The trough is asingle casting having the armature attached -thereto and is supported byinclined spaced parallel springs. The coil and adjustable core areenclosed in the base housing by a plate that permits adjustment of thecore to vary the air gap and lock it in place,

These simplified structural features provide economy of manufacture,simplicity to adjust and seal in protection for the electromagneticmotor and its air gap.

Other objects and advantages occur hereinafter in the followingdescription and claims.

The accompanying drawings Show for the purpose of exemplificationwithout limiting the invention or claims thereto certain practicalembodiments illustrating the principles of this invention wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation, with parts shown in section,illustrating the vibratory conveyor feeder comprising this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the vibratory feeder conveyor.

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation yof the end plate of the motor.

Referring to the drawings, this vibratory conveyor feeder comprises thebase casting l which is supported by the three rubber feet 2, one in thefront and two in the back. The casting is formed with :the rearwardlyopen housing in the form of the cylindrical bore 3. The fore part of thebase casting 1 has the spring seats 4 which are spaced and parallel witheach other and their slope determines the slope of the vibratorysupporting springs 5 which are almost as Wide as the base as shown inFig. 2. These springs are bolted by the screws 6 passing through theclamping bars 7. The upper ends of the springs 5 are fastened in thesame manner to the seats 8 cast on the under side of the conveyor trough10 which in this instance is a tubular member having a hopper-like inlet11 and a cylindrical discharge spout 12.

The axis of the cylindrical bore 3 is disposed at right angles :to theplanes of the seats 4 and 8 and the springs 5. This bore 3 is closed bythe plate 13 that has mounted thereon the coil 14 and the core 15. Thelatter is threadably secured in the opening 16 and is adjustablerelative to the plate by the cross slot 17. It is locked in placePatented Dec. 22, 1959 l2 by the lock nut y18 :that is lalso "threadablyreceived by the core 15. v

The plate 13 is secured vto the circular housing 20, the section of thebase 'that 'forms the bore 3 by the `screws 21. The wires 22 and A23which 'supply current vmpulses to the coil 14 pass through rubberbushings 24 in the plate 13.

The coil 14 is a simple spool 'and can be cemented to the plate ortightly clamped in 'the lb'o're against the end wall 25 by the plate 13.As shown the ends of the coil have compressible washers which absorb anyirregularities of the coil ends. The end ofthe core is positioned midwaywithin the coil 14 and an air gap is formed with the armature26'which`t'a'kes the same crosssectional shape as that of :the corewhich may be circular or square. These members may be made of magneticiron and may be solid if they are small or they may be built up yoflaminated steel. The closed magnetic circuit extends from the core 15through the plate 13 and the housing 20 to the armature 26. The Outerend of the armature is bored and threaded as at 28 to receive the stud27 which enters a similarly threaded hole 29 in the conveyor troughcasting. The armature 26 may also be cemented to the conveyor casting10.

By loosening the lock nut 18 one may turn the core to adjust its innerend relative to the armature. This air gap may be closed tight and witha micrometer screw thread on the core, the core may be backed up theproper distance to produce the proper air gap. Sufficient play isallowed between the housing 20 and the armature to allow completefreedom of the conveyor trough for oscillation. In order to maintain aseal in the motor chamber a flexible sleeve 30 is provided around thearmature and which engages the housing to seal the same from the entryof dust or a spark from the coil in the case of a failure.

This conveyor has the springs 5 selected to tune the mechanical systemto within a few degrees of the current impulses of the driving energy.This prevents the device from operating at resonance and `the conveyortrough keeps in constant step with the current impulses to provideuniform operation of the conveyor. As with other conveyors of this type,the current impulses may be obtained directly from an alternatingcurrent source or from a pulsating current source such as obtained bythe use of a half-wave rectifier.

I claim:

l. An electromagnetic motor for a vibratory conveyor secured to a framecarrying an armature and supported for reciprocation on spaced flexiblespring means secured to a base Io-n which an electromagnetic field coilis mounted in operative spaced relation to said armature characterizedin that said base is an integral casting of magnetically energizablematerial having therein coaxially aligned large and small bores toreceive the coil and the armature respectively, the axes of said boresbeing disposed normally to the planes of said flexible spring means, aplate `of magnetic material secured to said base casting to close saidlarge bore and the coil therein, said coil having a hollow center, saidarmature extending through said small bore into one end of the hollowcenter of said coil, a core of magnetically energizable materialsupported by said plate and extending into the other end of the hollowcenter of said coil to form an air gap with the end of said armatureinside said coil to completely enclose the magnetic field of said coilwithin said base casting.

2. An electromagnetic motor for a vibratory conveyor secured to a framecarrying an armature and supported for reciprocation on spaced flexiblespring means secured to a base on which an electromagnetic field coil ismounted in operative spaced relation to said armature, characterized inthat said base is an integral casting of magnetically energizablematerial having a cylindrical opening to receive therein the coil andthe armature, a core of magnetically-energizable material supported fromsaid base and extending into said coil to form an air gap with saidarmature withinsaid cylindrical opening to completely enclose themagnetic field of said coil within said base casting.

3. An electromagnetic motor for a vibratory conveyor secured to a framecarrying an armature and supported for reciprocation on spaced ilexiblespring means secured to a base on which an electomagnetic field coil ismounted in operative spaced relation to said armature characterized inthat said base is made of heavy metal and having therein a chamber toreceive the coil and the armature, the wall of said chamber having anopening therethrough for supporting said armature in said chamber fromsaid frame, a closure member for said chamber and secured to said baseto completely enclose the coil and armature therein, and rubber meansencircling the opening in the wall of the chamber and interposed betweensaid base and said frame to seal the armature in said chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

